Long overdue...

Hey everyone!

To say this post is "long overdue" would be a true understatement because there's a lot I have to cover here...at least, that's the way I feel right now. We'll see where my typing takes me/us...

Well, let's just get right down to business, shall we? I GOT A PART IN A PLAY!!! If you don't follow my updates on facebook, which I think most of you on here do, you probably already know this. Here's a little more info about this all came about:

So, you remember that reading series I talk about all the time back in January? Well, I got a call from one of the producers of this show saying that their director had worked with me during a reading and suggested I come in to read for one of the roles in the play! HELLZ YEAH! Within ONE YEAR of being here, I'm already being called to audition for stuff! Pretty tight, y'all! Anywho, so I went in to audition on a Sunday after reading the script that afternoon and was completely baffled by who they wanted me to read for. There are only three male roles in this play: Ben (19, figment of lead's imaginationg...sort of...), Andrew (20, angry youth that beats lead girl), and Jacob (55, Andrew's father with his own issues to deal with). When I checked in, I was surprised to be handed scenes to read for Jacob. Immediately, I was pretty unsettled because I wasn't sure if I read the script incorrectly, or these people got the wrong person because I am NOWHERE NEAR 55-years-old! However, true to form in NYC and always throwing me some interesting curve balls, they in fact knew I was only in my mid-20s and yes, I read the script correctly. There was another guy also up for the role that couldn't make it to the Sunday auditions so they were going to listen to him on Monday. All this meant for me was that I stayed for about an hour and 45 minutes reading a scene with various actors playing my son. At the end of that time they also had me read Jacob's monologue. Then they said thank you and sent me on my way. I didn't know what to expect because, like previously stated, life likes to throw me some curve balls. About an hour later, I got a voicemail asking to call the producers back because they "had some things [they] needed to discuss with [me]." The conversation went something along the lines of "Oh, thank you for staying so long, glad you could make it. There's another guy we want to read for the role. But, unfortunately, for him, we'd just like to offer you the role!" Cut to me dancing around on my front stoop!

Over the last month or so I've been hard at rehearsing my lines for four different scenes, two of which are spent on the phone...which can be very annoying. Anyways, I've been having a great time with it because it's the first time I've ever been challenged to think so much about my character. In the time since we started rehearsing, I've had to come up with this guys life story and answer all sorts of "Why?" questions. To be honest, it's been really intense, but incredible. I feel like I can actually step into this guys skin. Now, obviously I am much younger than he, but that's apparently the least of my director's worries. PHEW! I guess I can rest easy now knowing you believe our audience is going to believe a 25-year-old as a man more than TWICE his age. I'm glad she believes that, I'm not sure I will. Oh, well...

A week from tomorrow, "Merrily Merrily Merrily" opens in the Midtown International Theatre Festival at the June Havoc Theatre in NYC, featuring ME! We have six performances! If you're going to be in the area, or are just looking for a great time to come to NYC, here is our performance schedule:

Tuesday, July 13 at 6 PM

Saturday, July 17 at 5:30 PM

Tuesday, July 20 at 8:30 PM

Sunday, July 25 at 5 PM

Friday, July 30 at 8 PM

Saturday, July 31 at 2 PM

All performances will take place at the June Havoc Theatre in the Abbington Theatre Company Complex on 36th street between 8th and 9th Avenues in Manhattan. Tickets are available at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/753545

Use code "RILY" for a discount!

In other news, I made one last trip back to Ohio in the middle of June for Miami University Alumni Weekend. And what a weekend it was! I flew into Dayton on Thursday, June 17, and spent a day with my good buddy Sean. He just completed his first year of teaching and was just getting ready to finally relax into summer. From all the stories he has, it sounds like he truly has found his calling. Not to mention he has this awesome little house out in the country with a nice backyard and a great landlord. After recovering from my 7 am flight out of NYC that morning, we made a trip to the grocery and proceeded to make burgers and such. Naturally, I baked brownies (chocolate-covered strawberry brownies to be exact). With some great munching came a rousing round of YouTube-ing which introduced me to "Miranda Sings". Seriously, this chick is crazy, but it's completely put on. Check it! YouTube-ing lead to the main event of the evening: Drinking by the firepit. It was sweet. We talked about life, about love, about friends, about enemies, and our favorite topic: Ethan. Yes, I am not afraid to admit there were tears shed. I am also not afraid to admit that it was NOT me shedding those tears--sorry, Seany, didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag about your emotional side. It's all good, though.

Friday was a leisure day that lead to a not-so-leisure night in Uptown OXFORD, OH! After checking in at Alumni Registration, we proceeded to perform with the Cheezies for the School of Fine Arts reception. Can't lie, it was pretty cool to be singing with those guys again, especially when "those guys" included members of the group from my first year with Cheezies! A drink or two followed the performance, which was just a precursor to the first rehearsal of the weekend! Hall Auditorium has always been Club's home and it was nice to return home and see so many familiar faces. Singing with this group will NEVER get old or tiring, this much I know is true. After rehearsal, drinking ensued. That's all there is to that.

Saturday was anything BUT leisure. Rehearsal at 10 am followed by a luncheon in Ethan's honor at Shriver where the first ever Dr. Ethan Sperry Legacy Medallions where the award was presented in three categories: Musical Contribution to Collegiate Men's Chorus, Leadership Development, and Commitment to Community. I am very proud to announce that I was among one of the six recipients. It is truly an honor to be recognized in this way to pay tribute to a man that gave so much to so many. Cheers to you Ethan!

That evening, about 200 Club alums took the stage at Hall to perform a selection of some of our favorite songs, including the Biebl "Ave Maria" and Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium". As is tradition, we ended the concert with "The Parting Blessing" conducted by the venerable Dr. John Wabrick, a living legend. In further tradition, the celebration was taken back to our dorm where we drank and sang the night away. For those that are familiar with this new trend known as "Bros Icing Bros", I'd simply like to say I was iced with a 32 oz. bottle of Smirnoff Ice and downed it like a champ. That is all.

I've probably said this before, but I truly believe, especially after the events of this Alumni Weekend, that distance does make the heart grow fonder. I've never loved Oxford and Glee Club more than going back over the last few months. See you all in three years!

I guess that's actually all for now. I thought about going into a dissertation about the Tonys, but the gist is that Montego Glover got robbed for Best Actress in a Musical, which went to the much less deserving Catherine Zeta-Jones. Not to take anything away from Ms. Zeta-Jones, she did a fantastic job ACTING the role, but Ms. Glover ruled every moment of MEMPHIS and blows the roof off the Shubert Theatre. Don't worry, Montego, your Tony is waiting in the wings...

Happy Adventures!